Alerts In Effect

Contact Us

Every Kid in a Park

Every Kid in a Park Program Aimed at Next Generation of LeadersFree Program for Fourth-Graders to Experience Immigration Process on Ellis Island

New York, NY. The Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island are teaming up with the National Park Foundation and Park concessioners Statue Cruises and Evelyn Hill, Inc. to provide a free and immersive educational experience to fourth-grade classes.

Fourth-graders will participate in The Journey, an experiential education program where the students will be "processed" on Ellis Island as immigrants from the early twentieth century. The Journey was developed by education staff at the National Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island.

The program celebrates the National Park Service Centennial (1916-2016) and is part of the White House's Every Kid in a Park initiative designed to inspire the next generation to discover America's public lands.

This free program is made possible by a grant from National Park Foundation and is targeted to Title I schools in the metropolitan area during March, April and May. Ferry transportation to the islands and lunch will be provided for the program at no cost to the participating schools.

"The 2016 Centennial really pulls into focus the challenge of engaging a new generation of leaders who will carry the park service mission into the next century," said Superintendent, John Piltzecker. "I'm very pleased that we, along with our partners, have crafted a program that rises to that challenge by giving fourth-graders the chance to experience the immigration story Ellis Island represents."

"We are proud of our involvement with the 2016 National Park Service Centennial," says Mike Burke, VP/COO of Statue Cruises. "By offering this program to fourth-graders in this region, we hope to inspire in them a lifelong connection to parks across our nation." Statue Cruises is the official transportation concessioner for the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

Park concessioner Evelyn Hill Inc. will provide free lunch vouchers to participating students. "We are excited to be a part of this immersive experience for fourth-graders and look forward to hosting our next generation of leaders," said Bob Uffer, General Manager.

Opened on January 1, 1892, Ellis Island became the nation's premier federal immigration station. In operation until 1954, more than 12 millions immigrants were processed at the station. It has been estimated that more than 40 percent of America's population today can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island. After 30 years of abandonment, the main building was restored by The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation and, working in partnership with the National Park Service, opened as a museum in September 1990. www.nps.gov/elis